Unloading end frame of a die-loadig belt conveyor of ceramic materials

ABSTRACT

An unloading end frame of a die-loading belt conveyor comprising means about which the belt winds at least partially during motion thereof, wherein the means comprise a plurality of small-diameter rollers ( 3 ) arranged consecutively to one another, each of which is supported at ends thereof by support elements ( 4 ). The small-diamater rollers ( 3 ) are arranged consecutively to one another in such a way that axes thereof form a broken line.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to an unloading end frame of a beltconveyor carrying ceramic materials.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Specifically, though not exclusively, the invention is applied inloading dies for for the formation of ceramic tiles in devices generallyknown as double-loading devices, usually structured so as to depositinternally of a forming cell of a die a layer of powder material, whichis usually laid on top of an already-deposited layer of powder material.

[0003] These devices operate in combination with usual means for loading(drawers or trucks) a press, using various devices among which conveyorbelts exhibiting an unloading frame which moves alternatinglyhorizontally above the cell in synchrony with the other means forloading.

[0004] The operation of these devices is proportionally better inrelation to the overall width of the unloading frame (and therefore thebelt conveyor), and also in relation to the rigidity and geometricalstability of the structure and the geometrical configuration of theunloading frame.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,218 discloses a carrier for supporting aportion of a belt comprising first roller means for supporting themidsection of said belt and second roller means for supporting the sidesections of said belt. Each of second roller means have shaft meanswhich have inner ends pivotally mounted on a support fixed to the frameof the carrier and outer ends supported by means that adjustably se curesaid outer ends to respective upright posts fixed to the frame of thecarrier for varying the angular position of the second roller meansrelative to the first roller means to change the cross sectional concavecontour of the belt.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,227 discloses an idler assembly having anidler roll disposed on an inclined axis, a bracket for supporting oneend of the idler roll, pivot means for pivotally mounting said bracketto permit the inclination of said idler roll axis to be varied, a secondbracket like the first bracket for supporting the other end of the idlerroll, and means adjustable upwardly and downwardly and pivotallyconnected to said second bracket to selectively adjust the position ofsaid other end of th idler roll to thereby selectively set theinclination of the axis of said idler roll.

[0007] GB 1,494,960 discloses an adjustable support mechanism forconveyor mechanism including an endless load-carrying belt, the supportmechanism providing inclined surfaces for supporting marginal edgeportions of the load-carrying belt to cause the belt to trough andcomprising a pair of support assemblies disposed in use one on each sideof the conveyor, each support assembly including at least a pair ofsupport brackets which are to be spaced apart longitudinally of the beltand capable of being secured adjustably to respective mounting brackets,each support assembly including also a carrier assembly and a pluralityof rollers, each carrier assembly being pivotally adjustable on thesupport brackets, screwthreaded adjustment means being provided foradjusting the inclination of each carrier assembly on said supportbrackets for varying the degree of troughing of the belt.

[0008] The prior art all presents drawbacks with regard to the abovequalities. For example, the width of the unloading frame is verylimited.

[0009] A further problem in the prior art is that it is difficult tomaintain the right perfectly-centred and guided tension on the beltduring movement above the underlying cell. This difficulty is manifestedin the use of wide belts (2-3 metres and more) whose use is madepractically impossible in known applications.

[0010] The main aim of the present invention is to obviate theselimitations and drawbacks in the prior art.

[0011] An advantage of the invention is its simplicity.

[0012] A further advantage consists in its modular structure.

[0013] These aims and advantages and more besides are fully achieved bythe present invention as it is characterised in the claims that follow.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0014] Further characteristics and advantages of the present inventionwill better emerge from the detailed description that follows of apreferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustratedpurely by way of a non-limiting example in the accompanying figures ofthe drawings, in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral view in vertical elevation of theinvention in an intermediate operative configuration during a workcycle;

[0016]FIG. 2 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 3 is part of a section made according to line III-III of FIG.2.

[0018] With reference to the figures of the drawings, 1 denotes in itsentirety a belt conveyor whose unloading frame is part of a device oftentermed a double-loading device, which is associated to a die for formingceramic tiles and which is structured to deposit a layer of powdermaterial 8 inside a forming cell, generally on top of a lower layer ofpowders 7 previously laid by a usual loading drawer or truck.

[0019] The layer of powder material 8 is normally prepared on the“upstream” part of the upper branch of the belt 2, not shown in thefigures.

[0020] The unloading frame of the belt conveyor 1 is made to alternateabove the cell 9 of the die 6, in the direction indicated by the arrow10, in synchrony with the movements of the other loading means whichload the lower layer of powders 7, not shown in the figures.

[0021] The unloading frame comprises a bearing structure which includesa transversal bar 5 fixed to the ends of horizontal rods 11.

[0022] The bar 5 supports a plurality of small-diameter rollers 3arranged consecutively on which the belt 2 at least partially winds.

[0023] Each of the rollers 3 is supported and constrained to the ends ofsupport elements 4 which are mounted on the bar 5.

[0024] In particular, the small-diameter rollers 3 are arrangedconsecutively one after another in such a way that the axes thereof forma broken line.

[0025] The support elements 4 are mounted on the bar 5 byscrew-connections which can be adjusted so that the distance of the endsof the single rollers 3 (to which the support elements 4 areconstrained) from the bar 5 axis can be regulated or calibrated.

[0026] The rollers 3, which in a preferred embodiment are identical oneto another, constitute a modular structure which in its entirety forms astrong rotating body which is well-supported and on which the belt 2winds to form the end or frame of the belt conveyor 1.

[0027] The rotating means is very rigid independently of its overalllength. This rigidity depends on the flexional deformability of thesingle rollers 3 and the bar 5.

[0028] The ability to regulate the distances of the ends of the singlerollers 3 (using the support elements 4) with respect to the axis of thebar 5 means the reciprocal arrangement of the rollers 3 can be conformedto shape the belt 2 as required to obtain the desired centring.

[0029] The small diameter of the rollers 3 means that almostindependently of the width of the end frame (and obviously the belt) themass of the device can be reduced and therefore the distance of thelayer of material to be unloaded, with the result that the droppingdistance of the powder materials is reduced and the best droppingdistance for the powders can be optimally calculated.

[0030] The size of the support elements 4, which is less than therollers 3 (the size in section is less than the diameter of the rollers3), and the short distance (10-20 mm) between the single rollers 3 meanthat a single belt 2 can be used for even considerable widths (2-3metres and more). The belt 2 can be wound on rollers 3 over the wholewidth of the end frame, without interfering with the support elements 4.

1). An unloading end frame of a die-loading belt conveyor comprisingmeans about which the belt winds at least partially during motionthereof, the means comprising a plurality of small-diameter rollers (3)arranged consecutively to one another, each of which is supported atends thereof by support elements (4); the small-diameter rollers (3)being arranged consecutively to one another in such a way that axesthereof form a broken line; wherein the support elements (4) and the bar(5) on which said support elements are mounted are of a breadth whichdoes not exceed a diameter of the small-diameter rollers (3). 2). Theframe of claim 1, wherein the support elements (4) can be regulated. 3).The frame of claim 2, wherein the support elements (4) are mounted on abar (5), and can be regulated with respect to the bar (5) by means of ascrew connection. 4). The frame of claim 1, wherein the small-diameterrollers (3) together make up a modular structure. 5). The frame of claim2, wherein the small-diameter rollers (3) are identical one to another.